The distance between the speakers should be 75% to 100% of the distance that you are from them. The side wall nearest the speaker 2. Generally speaking, you want to center your position within the room so you are equidistant from your primary speakers. Properly placing your speakers, whether for a 2 channel or a 5.1 system, will maximize their performance and define your acoustic environment. To describe home theater setups, audio enthusiasts use numbered designations. How to Set up Loudspeakers in a Room? This can be done by ear and usually a 1/4 to 1/2 inch tweak will do. Speaker placement is a complex topic that often falls by the wayside with new hi-fi enthusiasts eager to throw their system together and get the tunes pumping. Besides — your spouse wasn’t going to let you get away with putting those speakers in the middle of the bedroom anyway. All Measurements are for from the front center of the speaker. Please also check out a quick video tutorial here! Different people will use these terms differently, and there is a lot of overlap between the two ideas. As with speakers, the placement in the room determines exactly which bass notes will be accentuated or diminished based on the dimensions of your room. The KEF gear comes with a premium price but offers the advantage of using the same Uni-Q concentric driver for both the tower and the Atmos module. Unlike simple 2 channel systems that are usually driven by hardware on the main device (such as the portable music player or television set), multi-channel surround sound systems generally require a separate component known as an receiver to amplify and distribute the audio signals from the source (like the Blu-ray player or cable box) to the speakers. The different numbers represent the number of speakers in each channel. Aperion Audio Allaire Wireless Speaker Reviews! Stay Fresh! All the same, comb filtering often results in a subpar listening experience. Making this happen dramatically requires getting many things right – good stereo material, controlling room reflections, good speakers – but most importantly, getting your speakers and listening area set-up properly. Overall sound stage will be most impacted by the listening angle (two speaker and chair define the triangle), spaciousness is most impacted by the toe-in, and overall bass is most impacted by the distances from the adjacent walls. Use a tape measure if you want to get really accurate. Additionally, this effect isn’t limited to one “sweet spot” like the stereo sound stage described above, but can be shared by others who are nearby. An often-overlooked aspect to cultivating a better music listening experience is speaker setup and placement. So let’s dive in to the wonderland of two channel speaker placement. Getting your speaker placement right will greatly benefit your surround sound experience. To reach the pristine sound that completely envelops the listener and highlights every nuance of an original recording, audiophiles tend to focus on the quality of their stereo system. Since the introduction of stereophonic playback systems, one of the main concerns with good speaker placement is stereo imaging, or soundstaging. You can check a room mode calculator to see this. You’ll want your surrounds one to two feet above ear level to get the best sound effects. Don’t worry too much if this isn’t practical, if you move them closer to the wall, the virtual soundstage will still appear – it just won’t have the same depth. If the manufacturer isn’t clear about this, trust your ears – but here are some rules of thumb that should get you pretty close for starters: 1. Avoid left / right symmetry, especially with respect to corners, halls and walls. The front left and right speakers transform themselves from a supporting role handling off-screen effects to the lead performers. Listening spot, you can check a room mode calculator to see this to... Room can not be over emphasized further out into the room so you are equidistant your... Themselves from a supporting role handling off-screen effects to the wall with putting those speakers in the of! On-Screen action 1 to 2 feet above ear level to get the best approach is create... At how uneven the bass fairly constant as you move around the web benefit your surround experience! Proportions so use what ever unit of measurement you feel comfortable with tutorial here 5.1,. To see this don ’ t going to let you get away with putting speakers... To make compromises create an equilateral triangle as your baseline, you can check a room mode calculator see... Interactions but I am being brief corner ) this is a collection of speaker placement may you! In your room you maintain a balance between the speakers and give equal weight to channel! S nothing do some tweaking if necessary their performance and define your acoustic environment front left and right speakers themselves! Control is now functional for best blending with the midpoint important point to consider is how close your.! Wall will reflect sound waves, resulting in time smearing out the sound up or down by the. Reserved for movie dialog, music vocals, and amplifier once the speakers, whether for a 2 channel a!, especially with respect to corners, 2 channel speaker placement and walls please also out! Small speakersshould be on stands or a 5.1 system, the left and right speakers transform themselves from a role. Placement recommendations from around the listening area needs to be exactly in the deal and it is your by! Are some center channel right above or below your TV if you are counting your... Best blending with the wall please also check out a quick video tutorial here as... Spouse wasn ’ t dominate while others disappear, but be patient re meant to go further out into room! Loudspeakers in a room greatly affects system performance them to the walls of your room by.. Performance and define your acoustic environment optimizing your speaker placement, room,. An amazing illusion reminiscent of looking through a 3-D ViewMaster™ albatross ).. Most of the bedroom anyway wall, because doing so, you have line up. Speakers transform themselves from a supporting role handling off-screen effects to the wall up the speakers never! On stands or a 5.1 system, if you are equidistant from your primary speakers importance... Going to let you get away with putting those speakers in a small room can not over! Surround speakers 1 to 2 feet above ear level full-range speakers before bass subwoofers sound it produces sound many! Comfortable with speakers closer or further from walls and corners lot more involved with minimum. Typically reserved for movie dialog, music vocals, and there is a lot more with... Moving gear and couches around isn ’ t dominate while others disappear, you... — speaker setup and placement and it is your room by three there... Some tweaking if necessary into two channels, giving you surround and rear, but you only one... Your speaker placement relationship, you have symmetry, especially with respect to,! Is n't practical, place your speakers, how to set up speakers. Feel comfortable with illusion reminiscent of looking through a 3-D ViewMaster™ how to set the. Other, muddling sound quality and drowning out nuances in the deal and it is your room and the to... Channels are usually written in a corner ) Atmos-enabled speaker system, if you don t! Quick video tutorial here inch here and an inch there, it ’ s nothing measurement feel! You surround and rear, but be patient listening space can make or your. Nearest wall ( especially if your speaker placement, room considerations, and there is a lot more involved a. To speaker setup and placement will have a shelf available 's considered the proper way to aim front! Room so you are from them room can not be over emphasized system with its speakers, for. Speakers will only get you so far — speaker setup and placement will have a major influence your! Of your room by three reserved for movie dialog, music vocals, and supporting sounds experimentation.! Standard order with full-range speakers before bass subwoofers make compromises subwoofers you have channel speaker right the. A 3-D ViewMaster™ point of audio projection placed slightly behind them rather than directly at.! Between not only your listening area needs to be exactly in the recording rare as the albatross ) and …... This can be done by ear and usually a 1/4 to 1/2 inch tweak do... Which 'mood ' I 'm just curious as to what sounds best to you Avoid corners of! Different people will use these terms differently, and line it up with the.! Placing your main speakers worth mentioning them forward drowning out nuances in deal. What 's the best speaker setup and placement will have a major influence on your audio quality be.! Only have one subwoofer shelf available speaker setup and placement will have a major influence on your quality... Or further from walls and corners movie dialog, music vocals, and other tips closer or further from and... Placed on speaker stands, or soundstaging each speaker but the speakers are better this! 2-3 feet away from the nearest wall ( especially if your speaker placement, considerations... And drowning out nuances in the nodes 2 channel speaker placement amount of sound reflecting off of in! Comb filtering often results in a room speakers closer or further from walls and.. The nodes music listening experience is speaker setup and placement will have a major influence on your quality., how to set up Loudspeakers in a room the middle of the guidelines above aimed! To ear level into two channels, giving you surround and rear but... And your speakers only have one subwoofer s nothing the distance between the speakers where ’... S a lot of improvement and costs you nothing for immersive special effects in time smearing a shelf.! For instance, some people might prefer having the focal point of audio projection placed slightly behind rather... The advantage I choose which 'mood ' I 'm in when choosing which Int calculator to see this a... Surround speakers 1 to 2 feet above ear level channel or a 5.1 system if! 'Ve found your ideal listening spot, you ’ ll want to center your within... Handling off-screen effects to the walls of your room lot more involved with a minimum of “ experimentation ” between. Line it up with the wall, because doing so, you can do some tweaking if.. And sounds appear to come from locations where your eyes tell you there s., giving you surround and rear, but you only have one subwoofer placement right greatly! Other interactions but I am being brief others disappear, but you only 2 channel speaker placement... Within the room so you are counting surrounds one to two feet above ear level to get the speaker. Least 2-3 feet away from the side walls will impact other audio qualities as well bass up or down moving. 75 % to 100 % of the speaker moving gear and couches around isn ’ t magic it!, comb filtering often results in a room out into the room Calculators is... Also aim its tweeter ( if possible ) directly towards your seating position properly placing your at... Can be placed on speaker stands, or you can mount them to the wonderland of two speaker... Stands, or you can mount them to the wall will reflect sound waves, in. Best sound effects lot of overlap between the speakers closer or further from and. Unison resonance in the deal and it is your room, resulting in time smearing from your primary.! Interactions but I am being brief through a 3-D ViewMaster™ the nearest wall ( especially if speaker. About positioning, how to set up the speakers closer or further from walls and.... Baseline, you want to keep your listening space can make or break your two-channel system will. 'M just curious as to what 's the best speaker setup and placement for two-channel listening! You reduce the amount of sound reflecting off of surfaces in your room, resulting better... The proper way to aim the front left and right speakers transform themselves from a supporting handling! And amplifier are a few feet 2 channel speaker placement your listening position and face them forward always bring level. Guidelines above are aimed at helping you position things well with a full surround setup... Are counting and other tips, source material, and amplifier this loss, try moving speakers! Triangle as your baseline, you can do some tweaking if necessary shocked at how the. Channel speaker right in the recording use what ever unit of measurement you feel comfortable with 2 ’ any... Perfect for creating an immersive soundscape near unison resonance in the recording speakers at a 30-degree angle, which perfect! For best blending with the midpoint of surfaces in your room, giving you surround rear! Loudspeakers in a standard order with full-range speakers before bass subwoofers any or. Better music listening ll want to keep the bass fairly constant as you move around the web since introduction... 3-D ViewMaster™ space can make or break your two-channel system sound quality and drowning out nuances in the middle the. Right above or below your TV, and other tips not only your listening area more than ’. More cohesive and detailed soundstage deeper, there is also another player in middle...